Basic education funding, the largest line item for districts, remains flat for 2014-15, and still does not equal the level of funding districts received four years ago. In Mr. Corbett’s first three budgets, school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania saw their funding slashed by $143.8 million. His first budget, the 2011-12 budget, cut almost $1 billion from education statewide, and those cuts were not restored for 2012-13. The 37 districts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties saw an additional $12.3 million in basic education funding in 2013-14. The governor’s administration has claimed he did not cut funding because former Gov. Ed Rendell chose to use federal stimulus dollars for education, and when stimulus money ran out, so did the education funding.

The 2014-15 budget eliminates the $100 million Accountability Block Grant, and replaces it with a $200 million Ready to Learn Block Grant, which can only be spent on certain uses, such as kindergarten or technology programs.

Area school officials say the money should go into basic education funding instead of having restricted uses.

“The districts, not Harrisburg, know where the money needs to go,” said David Cerra, Carbondale Area’s business manager. “Put the money there and we will spend it appropriately.”

Carbondale also would have liked to see significant progress made on a fair formula for charter school funding and more of an effort to reimburse school districts for construction projects. The budget includes a $10 million increase for the reimbursement program, for total funding of $306 million. The state owes Carbondale Area, Mid Valley and Western Wayne school districts more than $2.6 million in reimbursements for projects completed as many as three years ago.

The budget also includes an additional $20 million for special education funding, the first increase in six years and a $10 million increase for pre-kindergarten funding.

The governor withheld his signature as he waits to see if pension reforms are made.

For 2013-14, districts contributed 16.93 percent of their payroll to PSERS. Within four years, the contribution is expected to increase to 30 percent and will stay there through 2035. Educators say that without reform, their districts will have to layoff teachers and cut programs — moves that would have severe effects on education. Any extra money the district receives goes directly into the pension system, Dr. Mahon said.

In Scranton, which faces a 2015 deficit of almost $4 million, the $825,493 grant increase will do little to help the bottom line, Superintendent William King said. Mr. King resigned from the district last week, effective in October. He declined on Thursday to discuss his resignation.

“If we continue down this path, I just see a multitude of school districts going bankrupt,” he said. “Something’s got to give. Pension reform has to be addressed.”

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